Holen moves on to SCGA

West Ranch golfer is one round short of berth to state

J.J. Holen said Tuesday that he lost the Foothill League Most Valuable Player prize.

He’s making up for it in the postseason.

The West Ranch sophomore shot a 3-over 74 Tuesday at Hacienda Golf Club in La Habra Heights at the CIF-Southern Section Boys Golf Individual Final and SCGA Qualifier.

He finished 11th overall and qualified for the June 3 CIF/SCGA Tournament at the SCGA Members Club in Temecula.

Valencia senior Alex Macaluso shot an 80 and freshman teammate Jonathan Chang posted an 87 Tuesday and failed to make the cut, which was at 76.

Should he get past the CIF/SCGA, Holen will reach the June 10 CIF State Championship.

“I’d rather perform better during CIF than league,” Holen said.

Walking up to the 14th tee box on April 29 during the final Foothill League match, Holen held a one-stoke lead over Max Homa for MVP. The award goes to the player with the lowest total strokes for the league season.

But coming down the stretch, he double-bogeyed 14, then bogeyed 17 and 18, giving Homa the award.

“I think I lost it,” Holen now said. “I was pretty mad that night.”

He talked with his personal golf coach and rededicated himself by concentrating on his own game.

Holen said he was thinking too much about what others were doing on the golf course and it made his game slip.

Though his day wasn’t stellar Tuesday, it was certainly good enough.

Servite’ Patrick Cantlay was eight strokes better than him to take the Southern Section title with a 5-under 66.

It didn’t matter to Holen, though, as his season continues.

“I think I’m capable of winning it,” Holen said of the SCGA. “I just need to have a good driving round, a good iron round and a good short game.”

His short game saved him Tuesday, he said, as he was finding little trouble within 20 yards.

The 6-feet-tall sophomore said he struggled with yardage.

In the past, it hasn’t been an issue, which makes him a wild card for June 3.